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Designated business group

Two or more reporting entities that have agreed to form a group (the designated business group) to share the administration of some or all of their AML/CTF obligations (such as an AML/CTF program or record-keeping). Any member of the group can fulfil some of the obligations for the other members. However each reporting entity is still ultimately responsible for meeting its own AML/CTF obligations.

DBGs can only be formed by:

  • related companies
  • joint ventures
  • accounting practices that are reporting entities
  • legal practices that are reporting entities
  • registered remittance service providers.

An entity can only be a member of one designated business group at a time. The group agreement must be in writing.


AML/CTF Act 2006 section 5

AML/CTF Rules 2007 chapter 2, part 2.1

Designated remittance arrangement

An arrangement for transferring money or property to a recipient, where at least one of the entities involved in either accepting the instruction for the transfer, or making the money or property available, is not a financial institution such as a bank or a credit union.


AML/CTF Act 2006 section 10

Designated remittance service

A service for transferring money or property offered by a remittance service provider.  The remittance service must involve either accepting an instruction for the transfer of money or property, or making money or property available to the intended payee, or both.  In addition, the remittance service must be provided at or through a permanent establishment of the remittance service provider in Australia.

Designated service



AML/CTF Act 2006 section 6, tables 1–3

Digital currency (or cryptocurrency)

A type of currency that only exists in digital rather than physical form (not coins or notes, for example). Digital currency:

  • can be exchanged for goods, services or physical currency
  • is not issued by or under the authority of a government.


AML/CTF Act 2006 section 5

Digital currency exchange provider

A reporting entity that exchanges:

  • money (Australian or foreign currency) for digital currency
  • digital currency for money (Australian or foreign currency)

as part of operating a digital currency exchange business.


AML/CTF Act 2006 section 76E